Selector mechanisms for X-ray spot film devices



S. YERKOVICH June 7, 1960 SELECTOR MECHANISMS FOR X-RAY SPOT FILM DEVICES Filed Nov. 29, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR S\MON YERKOWCH BY @(y- ASSHGNEE June 7, 1960 S. YE RKOVICH SELECTOR MECHANISMS FOR X-RAY SPOT FIUVI DEVICES Filed Nov. 29, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.Z

IN VEN TOR. SIMON VEIZKOV| CH S. YERKOVICH June 7, 1960 SELECTOR MECHANISMS FOR X-RAY SPOT FILM DEVICES Filed NOV. 29, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.

INVENTOR. SiMON YEPKOVICH Q Ra MM AS$\6NEE United States Patent SELECTOR MECHANISMS FOR X-RAY SPOT FILM DEVICES Simon Yerkovich, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Le Roy J. Leishman, Los Angeles, Calif.

Filed Nov. 29, 1955, Ser. No. 549,747

8 Claims. (Cl. 250-66) The invention herein described pertains to X-ray equipment and more particularly to what is known in the industry and profession as spot film devices.

Spot film devices are combination instruments for use in fluoroscopy and associated radiography. During fluoroscopic examinations, the radiologist frequently desires to make an instantaneous radiograph of what he sees on the fluoroscopic screen. Spot film devices make this possible. They are necessarily used in the dark room, and it is customary for them to be mounted on X-ray tilt tables so that the patient may be examined in either a horizontal or a vertical position. It is accordingly necessary that the controls for operating a spot film device be located in a position that is very convenient during either vertical or horizontal fiuoroscopy. It is customary for the radiologist, particularly when he is making gastro-intestinal examinations, to palpate the patient with his right hand While operating the various controls with his left. With these considerations in mind, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that permits the main controls to be conveniently located, particularly for operation by the radiologists left hand.

While making fluoroscopic examinations, the radiologist uses every practical means to protect himself not only from primary radiation but also from secondary radiation. He accordingly wears a heavy leaded apron as well as leaded gloves which are necessarily very cumbersome. With these facts in mind, it is another object of the present invention to provide controls that are readily operable by the gloved hand.

Inasmuch as fiuoroscopy is necessarily done in the dark, it is advisable that the indicia be not only somewhat luminous but also sufiiciently large to permit easy reading, and it is also desirable that the controls using such indicia be located close enough to the head of the radiologist that is using the equipment to permit clear vision without unnecessary eye strain. When light is dim, the operations of the inverse square law are particularly noticeable; and the fact that light that is twice as far from the observers eyes has only A the effectiveness, becomes readily apparent. It is accordingly another object of the present invention to provide controls so designed and located that the disadvantages of substantial darkness are minimized.

As in all other equipment, trouble-free operation is required. It is accordingly a further object of the present invention to provide structural features that are simple and as unlikely as possible to get out of adjustment. 7

In order to achieve the last mentioned objective, a subsidiary object of my invention is to dispense with all gears and to place all the control elements upon a common shaft.

Much present-day X-ray equipment for fluoroscopy and radiography includes spot film devices whose pri mary axis is parallel to the table top during operations;

" but when no fluoroscopy is required or when patients are being placed upon, or removed from, the table, the spot film device is oriented to an out-of-the-Way position. To accomplish this, the spot film device is usually cantilevered out over the horizontal table from the fluoroscopic tower of mast when the table is in a horizontal position, and means is provided whereby the spot film device or tunnel may be parked out of the way in what might be termed a drawbridge fashion. Difierent manufacturers provide difierent means of pivoting the tunnel to permit such parking. It is necessary with most such pivoting arrangements to provide means for latching the spot film device in the horizontal or operative position. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide very simple latching mechanism.

A further object is the provision of a latching arrangement that is operated by the main control knob.

Still another object is the conservation of space by placing the latching or parking rod inside the main operating of control shaft.

Still other objects will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. .1 is a cut-away perspective of a spot film device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cut-away view of the main operating shaft and parking rod.

Fig. 3 is a cut-away view of a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view of the detent apparatus taken substantially along line 44 of Fig. 2, but with additional parts added that Were omitted from Fig. 2 for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 5 shows a spot film device utilizing my invention for latching the tunnel in an operative position.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through a spot film device at about the point that would be occupied by line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken through a spot film device embodying my invention at a point corresponding to line 77 of Fig. 2. A

In a spot film device, it is desirable that it be possible to make from one to four exposures on the same film. Sometimes it is required that the radiograph be the full size of the film. On other occasions it is desirable that two radiographs be made side by side on the film-that the film be split either horizontally or vertically. When the area to be examined is small, it is not only desirable but highly practical to make four exposures on the same film. To accomplish all this, there are nine different positions to which the cassette that holds the film may "be moved as the carriage in the spot film device passes from its home or rest position to the position it is to occupy when the exposure is made.

When a full view is to be taken, the cassette should come into a position in which its center is aligned with the center of the fluoroscopic screen. In this position it is also aligned with the central X-ray beam. When a left half or either of the left quarters is to be exposed, it is necessary that the cassette stop in a position that is closer to its rest position than the one which it must occupy when a full exposure is taken. When a right half or an upper and lower right quarter is to be exposed, the cassette must pass to a position that is further away from the cassettes home or rest position than the cassette occupies when the entire film is exposed. There are accordingly three different lateral positions to which the cassette may move. It is also necessary that the eassette be capable of occupying three different vertical or transverse positions that is, at right angles to the primary axis of the spot film device.

. The movement of the cassette into the nine difleren aforementioned positions can be effected by means of a first carriage 1, Fig. 1, that is mounted for movement in a direction parallel to the principle or longitudinal axis .of the spot film device and asecond carriage 5 thatv ismounted on the first carriage for movementin a directionat right angles to the direction of the movementof the first or main carriage 1. The method of mounting these carriages for movement in the manner 'just mentioned is explained in a co-pending application, Serial No. 549,773.

The second carriage 5 is adapted .to' receive the cassette. Its movement in a direction'at right angles to the direction of movement of the main carriagel, is accom-.

plished by means of two tracks 19 and Hand two sets of 'ball bearings that, cooperate respectively with these tracks.

Ball bearings 30 and 31, which are rotatably mounted on a bracket attached to carriage 5, are adapted in certain operative situations to follow track 19, and the ball bearings '37 and 38 are similarly arranged for cooperation with track 20. a

i As disclosed in the aforementioned co-pending application, Serial No. 549,773, the two pairs or sets of ball bearings are spaced so thatthey may simultaneously engage and ride the short tracks 24 and 26.

When the upper-half of the film isto be exposed, the

into slot 74 of the bracket 73 attached to carriage 5.

This specific mechanism for locking two carriages together is not material to the present invention, but will be found discussed in detail in the aforementioned copending patent application Serial No. 549,773.

If a full exposure is to be made, the operator turns the selector or operating knob 47 to the appropriate position. If two or more exposures, however, are to be made upon the same film, it is desirable not to have to depend entirely upon the manual positioning of theshaft 50. Rather, it is best that the operator be required only to set the shaft and knob in the proper angular position necessary forthe first exposure in the sequence, and that the shaft automatically advance to such other angular positions as may be required to complete the series of two or four, as the case may be. Such advancing is accomplished by means of the pawl 115 and the ball bearing ratchet wheel 118. Their function is described in the 7 previously mentioned copending application Serial No.

One more element is mounted upon the shaft 50. This is the detent wheel 95, the operation of which is shown cassette carriage 5' must occupy the position shown in r Fig. 1. As the carriages are returned from the position shown to their home or rest position at the right endof the tunnel, the ball bearings and '31 will ride track 19 r and then straddle. and ride hometrack 24. As ball bearings 30 and 31 engage home track 24, ball bearing 37 will pass betweenthe end ,of track 20 and the end of the home track 26,and ball bearings '37 and 38 will then upper end of the main carriage 1 than it occupies when exposing the upper half. In this new position, the blocks 12 and 13, which cooperate with two other corner blo'cks in retaining the cassette, will be much closer to the abutment 85 on the outer end of the plunger of the dashpot or air check that is mounted on the upper portion of the main' carriage.

In order to move the second carriage 5 to this position, the track 19 must first move away from home track'24, and the upper track 20 must move into alignment with the upper'home track 26. This is effected by means of pushrods 58 and 68 to which they are respectively attached in a manner that will not be described in detail here,'but which is described in the aforementioned copending patent application Serial No. 549,773. It'may be well to say here, however, that the movement of rods 58 and 68 which effects the shifting on tracks 19 and 20 is brought about by the movement of the cam follower arms 69 and 55flwhich cooperate respectively with cams 51 and 52., rigidly mounted on the main shaft 50. The

contour of these cams issuch that their angular position can determine which of the two tracks 19 and 20 will be aligned with its respective home track, or whether bothof them will be freev from operative engagement with the home tracks. When both of the tracks 19 and 20 have been isolated from theirrespective home tracks, both sets of ball bearings (30 and 31, and 37 and Y38) 'will be free to move indetail in the co-pending application Serial No. 549,773. The mounting of the detent wheel 95, the stop wheels 82, 83 and 84, .the ratchet wheel 118, and the cams 51 and 52 .allnpon a common .shaft effects simplicity of operation and manufacture and also produces a more trouble-free and less costly structure.

Thegeneral relations of these components that are mounted upon the shaft toother parts of the spot film device with which they respectively cooperate are shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7. V -In order to latch the spot film device in the operative position shown in Fig. 5, I provide a parking rod on the inside of the hollow shaft 50. A latch member 161, shown in Figs. 3 and 5, is attached to the end of the parking rod nearest the tower. The bracket 162 in Fig. 5 may be assumed to be a portion of the tower or mast, or a part that is attached thereto. The operating knob 47 not only rotates with the shaft 50 but is longitudinallymovable thereon in order to operate the parking rod 160. The end 160a of the parking rod is flattened as shown in Fig. 2 and pierced with a hole 163 in order to receive the end 164 of the screw 165. The lower unthreaded portion of this screw moves in a slot or keyway 166. .This structure permits longitudinal movement of the knob 47 independent of the shaft, but keys the knob and shaft together for simultaneous rotation. Inasmuch as the end 164 of the screw 165 passes through aperture 163 in the end 160a of the parking rod 160, it will be apparent that longitudinal movement of therknob with respect to the shaft will impart a corresponding motion to the rod 160 and to the latch 161 on the end opposite from the knob. .Theshaft 160-shouldflbe spring-loaded to urge the latch'161 outwardly. This maybe accomplished" as shown in Fig. 3, by providing the shaft with a rigidly mounted collar 167, a longitudinally movable collar or sleeve 168, an expansion spring'169 which surrounds the shaftand is interposed between these two collars, and a screw, pin or rivet which passes through the shaft 50 and limits the movement of sleeve 168 in one direction. As the spring. 169 expands between collars-168 and 167,'it 'pushes'the collar 167 and the shaft 160 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Whenthe radiologist pulls on the knob 47, the latching end 161 is retracted. i J

' 'When the radiologist'desires to park the spot film device'that is, move it from its operative to an out-of-theway positiom-he thus pulls on knob 47 and moves the latching member 161 out of hole 171 in the bracket 162. This unlocks the tunnel from its operativejposition and permits it to be rotated to a parking position in drawbridge fashion.

When the time] is to be moved again to its operative position, the latch 161 will automatically snap into the aperture 171 when the tunnel has finally been oriented to a horizontal position.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2, the collar 167 of Fig. 3 is omitted, the shoulder 167a of the latching end 161 serving the purpose of this collar.

Various modifications may of course be made in details of the embodiment that I have chosen for purposes of illustration, and numerous additions and substitutions may be made in the combinations hereinafter'claimed without departing from the broad spirit of my invention.

My claims are:

1. In an X-ray spot film device, a combination including: a shaft extending parallel to the direction of travel of the carriage that transports the film-carrying cassette from its home position; a detent wheel rigidly mounted on said shaft; a spring-loaded follower cooperating with said detent wheel to yieldably hold said shaft in any of a plurality of predetermined angular positions; a plurality of longitudinally spaced stop wheels rigidly mounted on said shaft, said wheels each having means associated therewith for stopping the carriage at a predetermined position in its movement away from said home position; a driving wheel rigidly mounted on said shaft; means at least operatively associated with said driving wheel for turning it and the shaft from one of said predetermined angular positions to the next upon movement of said carriage in one direction; and a manually rotatable knob upon one end of said shaft for turning said shaft.

2. In an X-ray spot film device, a combination including: a first carriage mounted for rectilinear movement between a home position and a plurality of other positions; a second carriage mounted on said carriage for movement in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of said first carriage; a shaft extending parallel to the direction of travel of said first carriage; a detent Wheel rigidly mounted on said shaft; a springloaded follower cooperating with said detent wheel to yieldably hold said shaft in any of a plurality of predetermined angular positions; a plurality of longitudinally spaced stop wheels rigidly mounted on said shaft, said wheels each having means associated therewith for stopping said first carriage at one of said other positions in its movement away from said home position; a plurality of selectively operable means for moving said second carriage from one position to another with respect to said first carriage upon movement of said first carriage; control means for operating said selectively operable means, said control means rigidly mounted on said shaft; and a manually rotatable knob upon one end of said shaft for turning said shaft.

3. In an X-ray spot film device, a combination including: a first carriage mounted for rectilinear movement between a home position and a plurality of other positions; a second carriage mounted on said carriage for movement in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of said first carriage; a shaft extending parallel to the direction of travel of said first carriage; a detent wheel rigidly mounted on said shaft; a springloaded follower cooperating with said detent wheel to yieldably hold said shaft in any of a plurality of predetermined angular positions; a plurality of longitudinally spaced stop wheels rigidly mounted on said shaft, said wheels each having means associated therewith for stopping said first carriage at one of said other positions in its movement away from said home position; a plurality of selectively operable means for moving said second carriage from one position to another with respect to said first carriage upon movement of said first carriage; control means for operating said selectively operable means, said control means rigidly mounted on said shaft;

6 a driving wheel rigidly mounted on said shaft; means at least operatively associated with said driving wheel for turning it and the shaft from one of said predetermined angular positions to the next upon movement of said carriage in one direction; and a manually rotatable knob upon one end of said shaft for turning said shaft.

4. In an X-ray spot film device, a combination including: a first carriage mounted for rectilinear movement between a home position and a plurality of other positions; a second carriage mounted on said carriage for movement in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of said first carriage; a hollow shaft extending parallel to the direction of travel of said first carriage; a detent wheel rigidly mounted on said shaft; a spring-loaded follower cooperating with said detent wheel to yieldably hold said shaft in any of a plurality of predetermined angular positions; a plurality of longitudinally spaced'stop wheels rigidly mounted on said shaft, said wheels each having means associated therewith for stopping said first carriage at one of said other positions in its movement away from said home position; a plurality of selectively operable means for moving said second carriage from one position to another with respect to said first carriage upon movement of said first carriage; control means for operating said selectively operable means, said control means rigidly mounted on said means carried by the fluoroscopic tower for pivoting said spot film device so that it may be moved from an operative position to an inoperative position; means for yieldably blocking said device in said operative position, said latter means comprising a rod mounted for longitudinal movement within said hollow shaft and a latch at least operatively attached to one end of said rod and positioned for cooperation with a strike whose location is fixed with respect to said fluoroscopic tower; aknob mounted upon said shaft for angular movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereon; and means connecting said knob and said rod whereby the longitudinal movement of said knob will operate said latch.

5. In an X-ray spot film device, a combination including: a first carriage mounted for rectilinear movement between a home position and a plurality of other positions; a second carriage mounted on said carriage for movement in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of said first carriage; a hollow shaft extending parallel to the direction of travel of said first carriage; a detent wheel each rigidly mounted on said shaft; a spring-loaded follower cooperating with said detent wheel to yieldably hold said shaft in any of a plurality of predetermined angular positions; a plurality of longitudinally spaced stop wheels rigidly mounted on said shaft, said wheels having means associated therewith for stopping said first carriage at one of said other positions in its movement away from said home position; a plurality of selectively operable means for moving said second carriage from one position to another with respect to said first carriage upon movement of said first carriage; control means for operating said selectively operable means, said control means rigidly mounted on said means carried by the fluoroscopic tower for pivoting said spot film device so that it may be moved from an operative position to an inoperative position; means for yieldably locking said device in said operative position, said latter means comprising a rod mounted for longitudinal movement within said hollow shaft, said rod protruding from one end of said shaft for engagement with astroke whose location is fixed with respect to said iluoroscopic'tower; a knob mounted upon said shaft for angular movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereon; and means connecting said knob and said rod whereby the longitudinal movement of said knob will effect the engagement and disengagement of said rod and said strike.

6. In an X-ray spot film device, a combination including: a first carriage mounted for rectilinear movement between a home position and a plurality of other posi- I against-the action of-said spring. j r I 7. 'In a spot film device, a combination includingf-a hollow shaft extending at least substantially from one end tions; a second carriage mounted ton said carriage .for movement in a, direction, atrightangles to the direction of movement of; said first carriage; a hollow shaft exjad na a a i'tq e d ct n of, aw pt l a d fi t carriage; adetent'wheel each rigidly mounted onisaid shaft; 'a spring-loaded followercooperating with said de tent wheel to 'yieldab ly hold said an of a plu= rality or predetermined angular positionsra plurality of longitudinally spaced stop wheels rigidly mounted on said shaft, said wheelshaving means associated therewith for stopping said first carriage at one of said other positions in itsmov emenft away from said horne "position; a plurality of selectively operable means formovingsaid sec: ond carriage from oneiposition to another with respect to'saidfirst carriage upon movement-of said ii'rst carriage; control means for operating said selectively operable means, said control means rigidly mounted onsaid means carried by the fluoroscopic tower for pivotingfsaid spot film device so that it may be moved from an operative position to an inoperative position; means for yieldably locking said device in said operative position; said latter means comprising: (a) a rod mounted for longitudinal movement within saidhollow'shaft; (b) 'a latch at least operatively attached to one end of said rod and positioned for cooperation with a strike whose location isfixed with' respect to said fluoroscopic tower, ('c) a sleeve mounted on said rod for longitudinal movement thereon; (d) a collar rigidly mounted on said rod between said sleeve and said latch, (e) an expansion springsurrounding said 'rod and expanding between said sleeve and said collar;

Y ablyholdingtthe spot film v device in a specific position with respect to the fluoroscopic tower on which it may bemopntedpa rod mounted for longitudinal movement w i idt o ow sha t d. h v paa least s p rat n c ne on t t id la h; a s ear unts 0 said rod for longitudinal movement thereon a collar r l mo n d .on s rod n'sa d sl eve s i latch; an expansion spring surronndingsaid rod and ex.-

"panding between said sleeve and said collanmeans for limti am s at 9t d lv t n Qe ie re; 'spect to said shaft; a knobmounted upon said shaft for'ana r ve w 1 sq tlsa ifi movement thereon;- and means connecting said knob and said rod whereby 'the longitudinal movement of said knob in-one' direction'will move said rod against-the action of-said springand control themovement of said latch: p

f 8.}In a;spot film device, *a combination including: a hollow shaft extending at' least substantiallyfrom one end of said dev-ice to the other; a frame for holding a c'as sette and transporting it between 'a rest position and any of a plurality of other positions; means responsive to the angular position of said shaft for predetermining to which of said'other'positions said framewill move during any 7 given journey from said r'est'position; a latch for yieldand (1) means for limiting the movement of said sleeve 7 in one direction with respect to said shaft; a knob mountedupon said; shaft for angular movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereon; and means connecting said knob and said rod whereby the'long-itudinal movement of'said knob in-- one direction will m ve said rod given journey from said rest position; a latch for yieldably holding the spot film device in a specific position with respect to the fluoroscopic tower on which it may be mounted; a rod mounted for longitudinal movement within saidhollow shaft, said rod having 'at least an op erating connection to'said latch; a first abutmentfixed to said rod between said spring'and latch; a second abutment located in a fixed position with respect to said shaft; 'a"spring surrounding said shaft and expanding between said abutments; a knob mounted upon said shaft for angular movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereon; and'means connecting said knob and said rod whereby the longitudinal movement of said'knobin one direction will move said'rod against the'action of said spring and control the movement of said latch;

2,709,221 Haupt et a1. May 24, 1955 2;749,445 Stava et al. June'6, 1956 

